Golf ball washer

ABSTRACT

A PORTABLE DEVICE FOR WASHING GOLF BALLS INCLUDING A CONTAINER WITH CURVED CLEANING ELEMENTS OF POROUS PLASTIC, SUCH AS URETHANE, POSITIONED THEREIN AND A PLUNGER HAVING A BALL RECEIVING OPENING IN THE BOTTOM THEREOF ADAPTED TO BE MOVED UP AND DOWN IN THE CONTAINER AND THE BALL CARRIED THEREBY COMPRESSES THE PLASTIC TO PRODUCE A SCRUBBING ACTION.

June 8, 1971 J. A. M CONNELL GOLF BALL WASHER Filed Feb. 11, 1969 INVENTOR. JOHN A. McCONNELL ATTOR YS United States Patent 3,583,016 GOLF BALL WASHER John A. McConnell, 5860 Robertson Ave., Newark, Calif. 94560 Filed Feb. 11, 1969, Ser. No. 798,318 Int. Cl. A631) 47/04 U.S. Cl. 15-97 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A portable device for washing golf balls including a container with curved cleaning elements of porous plastic, such as urethane, positioned therein and a plunger having a ball receiving opening in the bottom thereof adapted to be moved up and down in the container and the ball carried thereby compresses the plastic to produce a scrubbing action.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an improved portable golf ball washer which is adapted to be clipped to the golfers trouser belt or golf cart.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved golf ball washing device which is lightweight and economical to manufacture and which is efficient in operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved golf ball washing device in which the golf ball is loosely supported in a movable plunger to compress and deform the inner curved surfaces of porous plastic cleaning elements.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved portable golf ball washing device provided with a container for receiving a quantity of ball washing liquid, the washing liquid being directed against surfaces of the golf ball and adjacent surfaces of curved cleaning elements during motion of the golf ball between the curved cleaning elements.

Other and further objects of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which it relates from the following specification, claims and drawing.

In accordance with this invention there is provided an improved portable golf ball cleaning device which is of light weight and which may be attached to the golfers trouser belt or golf cart so that it may be carried around the golf course to be available for use as needed. This device is provided with a tubular container with curved porous and resilient cleaning elements of urethane plastic or the like, attached to the inner walls thereof. The golf ball to be washed is inserted into an opening provided in a plunger that is adapted to be moved up and down in the container so that the ball deforms and compresses the curved cleaning element during motion thereof in the liquid contained in the container whereby the ball is efficiently scrubbed.

A suitable cover for closing the top of the container is provided to this device so that liquid does not spill therefrom during the golfers walking motion. This cover may be made integral with the plunger and is positioned directly below the finger grip provided to the plunger.

Further details of this invention will be set forth in the following specification, claims and drawing, in which briefly:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side view of the bottom porice tion of the plunger showing the golf ball receiving opening provided thereto.

Referring to the drawing in detail reference numeral 10 designates the container of this device which is adapted to receive a quantity of liquid including a suitable detergent for washing golf balls. The tubular body of the container 10 may be made of metal or plastic such as polystyrene or similar material and it is provided with a bottom which may be molded integral therewith or which may be attached thereto by using suitable cements or adhesives. A button 12 which may be formed integral with the container or it may be riveted thereto is provided for pivotally attaching the clip 13 to the container. The clip 13 is adapted to be slipped either over the edge of the golf club bag or over the trouser belt of the golfer and functions to support the container thereon.

Curved cleaning elements 14 and 15 are provided to the inside of the container 10. These elements may be cemented to the inner surface of the container by suitable adhesives, cements or the like or they may be held therein by the tendency thereof to expand. The cleaning elements 14 and 15 are made of various materials such as porous artificial sponge, orous plastic foam such as urethane foam With the ball engaging surfaces thereof of a fibrous texture. The clearance between the inner surfaces of the cleaning elements is substantially less than the diameter of the golf ball so that the ball must compress the porous cleaning elements when it is inserted therebetween. A plunger 16 which is made of plastic or similar material is provided to this device and the lower part thereof is made in the shape of a frame 17 shown in side view in FIG. 4 for loosely receiving a golf ball 18. Thus when the ball 18 is moved up between the cleaning elements 14 and 15 some of the liquid from above the ball must squeeze down between the ball and elements 14 and 15 thereby washing and scrubbing the ball. On the other hand some of the liquid from below the ball squeezes up between the ball and elements 14 and 15 when the plunger and ball are moved downward.

This action serves to loosen the dirt on the golf ball and also any dirt that may be adhering to the inner surfaces of the cleaning elements. Moving the plunger and ball in a series of rapid strokes of course facilitates cleaning of the ball.

The plunger frame 17 is made sufficiently wide to give the golf ball a wide support. This wide support prevents any tendency the ball may have to jam between one side of the frame 17 and one or the other of the cleaning elements 14 and 15. The ball thus may be relatively free in the frame 17 so that the pressure of the cleaning elements 14 and 15 thereon tends to be equalized. However, it may be rotated by the gripping action of the cleaning elements 14 and 15 thereon while this gripping action is being equalized during movement of the plunger and ball u and down in the container.

A cover 21 is provided to this device and this cover may also be made of plastic or similar material. The cover 21 may be made integral with the plunger 16 or it may be made separately and cemented to this plunger by using suitable adhesives. Also it may be shaped with a groove so that it is adapted to snap to an internal ridge provided to the container as shown in FIG. 2. The upper part of the plunger 16 is made relatively wide and is provided with a finger grip hole 22. The finger grip 22 is positioned directly above the cover 21 so-that the cover also acts as a shield to prevent liquid from the container splashing onto the operators hand when the plunger is being worked up and down in the container during the washing of the golf ball.

While I have shown and described a preferred embodi- 3 ment of the invention, it will be understood that the invention is capable of variation and modification from the form shown so that the scope thereof should be limited only by the proper scope of the claims appended hereto.

What I claim is:

1. In a portable device for washing golf balls and the like, the combination of an elongated tubular container having a bottom and side walls and being adapted to carry a predetermined quantity of golf ball cleaning fluid therein, a plunger adapted to be inserted into said container, said plunger having an opening for loosely receiving a golf ball, curved cleaning elements of yieldable porous plastic positioned in said container on opposite sides of said plunger, said plunger comprising spaced parallel members that are adapted to slide in channels formed between opposing sides of said curved cleaning elements, said channels being positioned on opposite sides of said container, said cleaning elements extending substantially from the bottom of said container and almost to the open top thereof, the distance between said cleaning elements being substantially less than the diameter of the golf ball so that said porous cleaning elements are deformed and compressed when a golf ball is moved up and down 'between them by said plunger to facilitate scrubbing of said golf ball, the part of said plunger surrounding said golf ball being wide enough to support said golf ball squarely thereon so that said golf ball support applies positive pressure on said golf ball as said golf ball is moved up and down and the tendency of said support urging said golf ball therefrom into said cleaning elements during said up and down movement is reduced and the jamming of said golf ball between said plunger and one of said cleaning elements is eliminated, said golf ball being free to move in the support thereof with respect to said cleaning elements during movement of said plunger up and down in said container, said plunger having a finger-receiving grip in the upper part thereof whereby said plunger is adapted to be gripped and moved up and down in said container moving said golf ball up and down in said liquid while said ball is squeezed between said cleaning elements and compresses said porous elements as it is moved therebetween.

2. In a portable device for washing golf balls and the like, the combination as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a cover for said container attached to said plunger directly below said finger grip, said cover also shielding the hand of the operator of this device from splashing liquid during movement of said plunger up and down in said container.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,006,009 10/1961 Hoffecker 1521 (.1) 3,101,497 8/1963 Derkocz 1521(.1) 3,150,406 9/1964 Obitts 15-10492 3,304,659 2/1967 Eichhorn 1521(.l 3,378,873 4/1968 Strout 15--244 3,380,095 4/1968 Piper 15-97 DANIEL BLUM, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 15244 

